Cricket: Taylor ruled out, Aussies bat first

Ross Taylor was a late withdrawal while Daniel Vettori was passed fit to captain New Zealand as Australia won the toss and chose to bat in the second Chappell-Hadlee Trophy one-day cricket international at Eden Park here today.

Taylor was ruled out today due to a hamstring strain, meaning a callup for Auckland wicketkeeper-batsman Gareth Hopkins. Taylor suffered the injury during the first match in Napier and it hadn't recovered sufficiently.

Vettori admitted his neck injury was ``not great' but with Wednesday's man of the match Taylor withdrawing it meant he decided to battle through the match.

Vettori replaced the injured Jacob Oram (knee) in the second change from New Zealand's two-wicket win in Napier. Hopkins would keep wicket because Brendon McCullum had a sore back, Vettori said.

Australia named an unchanged side.

The weather was fine after early showers and a start was due on time at 12pm (NZT).

Teams:-

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon McCullum, Peter Ingram, Martin Guptill, James Franklin, Neil Broom, Scott Styris, Gareth Hopkins, Daryl Tuffey, Tim Southee, Shane Bond.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Michael Hussey, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Ryan Harris, Doug Bollinger.

Umpires: Rudi Koertzen (South Africa), Billy Bowden (New Zealand).

- NZPA